Button cover



June 29, 1965 J. A. VAN METER 3,

BUTTON COVER Filed March 21. 1961 INV EN TOR.

ATTORNEY JAMES ADAMS VAN METER United States Patent This inventionrelates to a button cover, and more particularly to a decoration coverusable with a garment having a button and a button hole therefor fordecorating the garment by removably securing an ornamental article tothe button which is visible from the exterior of the garment Whilecovering the original button, and for simulating a cufllink on aconventional button receiving cuif.

More particularly, this invention provides a button cover having anornamental article, such as generally used and including polishedsemi-precious or other stone, with a gripping means attached thereto,the gripping means being insertable through a button hole for grippingthe button, while the ornamental article is visible from the exterior todecorate the garment. Besides being used to mount the usual ornament, itis particularly useful for collectors of minerals and semi-preciousstones for displaying their collection or putting it to practical use.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved buttoncover in which the conventional button on a garment is covered anddisguised by an ornamental article, yet which, when removed leaves thebutton useful, with its buttonhole, in conventional manner.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedbutton cover which is applicable to a conventional buttoned cuff tosimulate the appearance of a cult link having an ornamental articlesecured thereto.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedbutton cover which provides new and improved resilient gripping meansfor gripping the existing button of the garment by which the ornamentalarticle is easily and readily removably secured to the button.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedbutton cover in which the gripping means thereof is easily and readilyinserted through the existing button hole of the garment for access tothe button thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved buttoncover which is removably securable to the garment portion having thebutton hole and selectively securable to the button wherein the buttoncover is retained upon the buttton hole portion of the garment duringengagement and disengagement of the button.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved buttoncover which is economical to manufacture and capable of mass production.

A general object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedbutton cover of the character described which generally overcomesdisadvantages of prior means and methods heretofore intended toaccomplish generally similar purposes.

These and other objects of this invention will be more apparent from thefollowing detailed description, drawings and appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken ice substantiallythrough the center line of a button hole of a garment, hereinillustrated as the culf of a shirt, blouse, or the like;

FIGURE 2 is a rear side view of the button cover of this invention;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view takensubstantially along the lines 33 of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a side View, similar to FIGURE 2, illustrating a modifiedembodiment of this invention;

and

FIGURE 5 is a vertical cross sectional View taken substantially alongthe lines 55 of FIGURE 4.

Referring in detail to the drawings, there is shown, by way ofillustration but not of limitation, a button cover designed andconstructed in accordance with this invention and generally designatedby the number 10. The button cover 10 is herein illustrated as appliedto a button 11, sewn or otherwise secured to a garment generallydesignated by the numeral 12. The garment 12 is illustrated herein asfor example, a cuff of a shirt or blouse and is shown in cross sectionin FIGURE 1, wherein a button hole 13 is provided for receiving thebutton 11 to secure the cuff in conventional manner.

The button cover 10 generally comprises a base 14 of relatively rigidmaterial and having an ornamental article, such as a semi-precious stoneor other ornamental jewelry indicated by the numeral 16, secured bycementing or the like to one side 17 thereof.

The ornamental article 16 is preferably slabbed on one side prior tosecurement to the base 14, to provide a relatively fiat surface for thepurpose of cementing. However, it is to be recognized that an article 16having an irregular back surface may be advantageously secured to theside 17 of the base by using a base of relatively soft ductile materialwhich may be deformed somewhat to conform to the configuration of thearticle. Further an increased amount of cement may be used to fill gapsexisting between the base and the stone.

A button gripping means, insertable through the button hole 13-, andgenerally designated by the numeral 18 is secured to an opposite side 15of the base 14. The but ton gripping means 18 includes an elongated,relatively rigid member 19 having outer ends 21 and 22 which areoutwardly turned back. A pair of elongated, flexible, resilient members23 and 24, in the form of expandable coiled springs are stretched acrossthe member 19 from the ends 21 and 22, in spaced parallel relationship.Each spring 23, 24 is secured to each turned back end 21 and 22 byengagement of their ends 26 and 27 in apertures 28 provided in eachturned back end.

Optionally, as best seen in FIGURE 4, a pair of hooks 29 may be providedin each turned back end designated in FIGURE 4 as 21 and 22.

By virtue of the turned back ends 21 and 22, the springs 23 and 24 arein spaced parallel relationship to the remainder of the elongated member19, for a purpose which will be hereinafter described.

The elongated member 19 is additionally provided with an offset portion31 which is offset from the center thereof to form short and longportions or arms 32 and 33, respectively, of the elongated member 19.The portions or arms 32, 33 are spaced from the base 14 so as to providespace between the button gripping means 18 and by the numeral 34. a

. I) V I a. I i the base 14 in which' the material of the garment 12surrounding the buttonhole 13 resides when the button cover is placedthereon. The arm 33 is longer than herein but is to be accorded the fullscope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices.

the arm 32 so that the elongated member 19 may be conveniently insertedthrough the button hole 13 which is normally appreciably shorter thanthe overall length of the elongated member 19. The elongated member 19is secured at the offset 31 to a central portion of the base 14 by afastener such as a rivet 36. Optionally, the offset portion 31 may besecured to the base 14 by soldering spot welding, or the like.

What is claimed is:

1. A button cover for'a button secured by fastening means to a garmenthaving an overlying portion with a button hole therein, comprising: abase having a pair of opposing armsextending from one side thereof andolfset in spaced substantially parallel relationshi thereto,

button hole with the garment portion surrounding the butone of said armsbeing appreciably longer than the other of said arms, each armhaving tabmeans extending outwardiy therefrom; an ornamental article secured to anopposite side of said base and being appreciably larger than the buttonhole so that it will notpass through the button hole; a pair of parallelflexible resilient members spaced apart'a distance less than the widthof said button, each resilient member having an end secured to one ofsaid tab means so as to be in spaced parallel re'lationshipto said arms}said arms being selectively extensible through the button hole so as toposition said arms adjacent to the inner surface of said overlyingportion and to said button, and to position said base adjacent V to theouter surface of said overlying portion, said resilient tion residingbetween the springs23 and 24 andthe main portion of the elongated member19. The button is held by the springs 23, 24.When the button is againturned it I to its normal fiat relationship. The springs 23 and 24.

then resume their normal taut position to span the fastening meansforthe button 11 such as the thread indicated Optionally, the arms 32 and33 of the elongated member 19 may be formed integrally with the base, asindicated in FIGURES 4 and 5. In these figures, like parts are referredto by like numbers whichare primed. The base 14"of the instantembodiment 10' is secured to an ornamental article 16', similar to theornamental article 16, and is similarly secured by cementing or thelike;

The base14' includes a relatively short army 32' and a. relatively longarm 33'.

Springsj23 and 24' are secured to the turned back '.end or tab 21 and22' of the arms 33' and 32', respecmember being laterally andlongitudinally expandable so as to receive the button therethrough inedgewise relationship for positioning thebutton in flat relationshipbetween said resilient members and said arms with said fastening meansresiding between said resilient members.

2. A button cover as defined in claim l-wherein each 7 of said tab meansincludes an outwardly turned back tively, eachzturned back end or tabhaving-a pair of hooks f It will now be more clearly seen from theforegoing description that when thebutton coverlt) is inserted into thebutton hole 13 to place the button gripping means 18 against the innersurface of the garment 12, the button 11 may be inserted through thesprings to reside between the springs and the base 14 or14'to close thecuff of the garment, thus giving an appearance'of a semi-preciousstone'16 secured on the exterior of the garment or of a cufflink. Thedevices l0and10' may be also used to cover the front buttonof a garmentin a similar manner as for the button of the cuff, or to'complement it,so

as to decorate the front panel ofv the garment. Any ornamental articlemay be used for securement to the exterior of the bases 14 and 14, suchas semi-precious or preciousstones in their natural but polished'stateas they appear after slabbing and tumbling to produce a very effectiveand ornamental decoration for garments. In the event a precious stone isused, a jewelers'mount is preferably used.

While there is; herein shown and described what is conceived to bethemost practical and preferred embodiend on one of saidarms and a pairof spaced hook means on each said turned back end, the ends of each endof said resilient member being removably secured to one of said hookmeans of each of said tab means. 3. A button cover as defined in claim 2wherein each =resilient'rnember comprises an expandable coil springhaving opposing ends removably engaging said hook means.

- 4. A'button cover for a button-secured byfastening means to a garmenthaving a button hole therein comprising:'. V i i a planar base; i an armextending beyond said base substantially in a plane parallel tosaid'base; 7

firstsecuring means at the end of said arm extending outwardly thereof;"second securing means extending outwardly of said base in the samedirection as said first securing means; a a pair of'resilient membersextending .side by side 7 between said securing means and securedthereto;

said arm being adapted to be inserted into a button l hole; y I saidresilient members being spaced apart a distance less'than the fiat widthof a button; said-button'being insertable edgewise between saidresilient members and thereafter secured between said members and saidarin with said fastening means extending between said members while saidbutton is ;in fiat position.

5. A button cover as defined in claim 4 wherein each securing meansincludes a pair of spaced apertures and each resilient member includesends removably engaging one of said apertures for securing'saidresilient members to said securing means. j r

*6. A button cover as defined in claim ,4 wherein said base member hasanornamental article secured thereto. 7. A button cover as defined inclaim 4 wherein said armis offsetfrom said base for providing a spacebetween said base and'said arms for receiving garment materialsurrounding said'button hole. v I

8. A button coveras defined inclaim 4 wherein each lof said resilientmemberscomprisean elongated coil ments of this invention, it isrecognized that departures "may be made therefrom within the scope ofthis invention whichqis not to be limited to'the details disclosedspring capable of lateral and longitudinal flexing duringedgewiseinsertion of said button between said springs.

(References on foliowing' page) 5 6 References Cited by the ExaminerFOREIGN PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENTS 52 Belgium- 4 97 Goodwin 24 11331773 6/85 y- 11/03 Marsh 24217 5 OTHER REFERENCES 8/22 Leonard 21131German application, Ser. No. Sch 15,622, printed Aug. 7/28 Myers 24-11323, 1956 (KL44a2). 2/30 Riker 24-113 1/57 Euestad- DONLEY I. STOCKING,Przmary Exammer. 3/58 Fernly 211-120 10 ABRAHAM G. STONE, BERNARD A.GELAK, 4/59 McDonough 24-113 Examiners.

1. A BUTTON COVER FOR A BUTTON SECURED BY FASTENING MEANS TO A GARMENTHAVING AN OVERLYING PORTION WITH A BUTTON HOLE THEREIN, COMPRISING: ABASE HAVING A PAIR OF OPPOSING ARMS EXTENDING FROM ONE SIDE THEREOF ANDOFFSET IN SPACED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP THERETO, ONE OFSAID ARMS BEING APPRECIABLY LONGER THAN THE OTHER OF SAID ARMS, EACH ARMHAVING TAB MEANS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM; AN ORNAMENTAL ARTICLESECURED TO AN OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID BASE AND BEING APPRECIABLY LARGERTHAN THE BUTTON HOLE SO THAT IT WILL NOT PASS THROUGH THE BUTTON HOLE; APAIR OF PARALLEL FLEXIBLE RESILIENT MEMBERS SPACED APART A DISTANCE LESSTHAN THE WIDTH OF SAID BUTTON, EACH RESILIENT MEMBER HAVING AN ENDSECURED TO ONE OF SAID TAB MEANS SO AS TO BE IN SPACED PARALLELRELATIONSHIP TO SAID ARMS; SAID ARMS BEING SELECTIVELY EXTENSIBLETHROUGH THE BUTTON HOLE SO AS TO POSITION SAID ARMS ADJACENT TO THEINNER SURFACE OF SAID OVERLYING PORTION AND TO SAID BUTTON, AND TOPOSITION SAID BASE ADJACENT TO THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID OVERLYINGPORTION, SAID RESILIENT MEMBER BEING LATERALLY AND LONGITUDINALLYEXPANDABLE SO AS TO RECEIVE THE BUTTON THERETHROUGH IN EDGEWISERELATIONSHIP FOR POSITIONING THE BUTTON IN FLAT RELATIONSHIP BETWEENSAID RESILIENT MEMBERS AND SAID ARMS WITH SAID